Executive and other Decision-making Structures

The Council’s decision making arrangements consist of:

The Council itself (made up of all 44 councillors) which decides the overall policy and budget framework of the council.

A Cabinet (made up of the Leader, Deputy Leader, Executive Members and the Leader of the Minority Parties Group) which is responsible for the "executive" functions and decisions of the council (within the overall policy and budget framework set by the Council). Only those Cabinet members from the majority party hold ‘decision making’ portfolios.

The Leader and Deputy Leader hold an overarching portfolio on behalf of the Cabinet which is strategic in its content. Further details of all Executive portfolios can be found in Appendix 6 of the Council's Constitution.

Each portfolio held by an Executive Member relates to a departmental function and a ‘cross-cutting’ issue. The portfolios and Executive Members are:

• Operational Services & Performance – Councillor B John Cunningham
• Children & Young People – Councillor Mary Barnett
• Planning, Public Protection & Customer Focus – Councillor Julianna Biggs 
• Housing & Community Safety – Councillor Gwyneira R Clark
• Health, Social Care & Wellbeing – Councillor Brian Mawby 
• Resources – Councillor Marlene Thomas
• Regeneration – Councillor Richard Clark
• Equalities - Councillor Cynthia Beynon 

The Overview and Scrutiny Committees, which reflect the same portfolios as the executive members. The Executive Member for the portfolio is not and cannot be a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, but can participate by invitation. The role of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees is to scrutinise/challenge executive decisions, help develop policy and review performance in the service areas within their remits.

An Ethics and Standards Committee, which ensures the council conducts itself properly and investigates complaints.

An Audit Committee, which ensures proper auditing and financial management practices.

A Planning Committee, which decides applications for planning permission and other regulatory matters.

A Licensing Committee, which decides applications for licences including for pubs and clubs, taxis, gambling and late night entertainment, among others.

Other Committees which perform other functions – such as the Members’ Services Working Party, Appointments Committee, Investigations Committee, Housing and School Appeals Panels, as well as joint committees (an arm of the executive) which take decisions jointly with other councils about cross-boundary issues such as transport, roads, staff pensions and archives.

Public involvement is welcomed and can be achieved in the following ways:

• Members of the public can attend all meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, the Planning Committee, the Licensing Committee, the Audit Committee and the Ethics and Standards Committee (and some other meetings), except where confidential or exempt information is likely to be disclosed, against the public interest.
• Members of the public can see agenda papers and background papers for meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, the Planning Committee, the Licensing Committee, the Audit Committee and the Ethics and Standards Committee (and some other meetings) and where appropriate see any records of decisions made, except where confidential or exempt information is likely to be disclosed, against the public interest.
• Members of the public may attend meetings of the Planning Committee and speak if they have objected in writing to a planning application that is being considered. A copy of 'Having your say Leaflet' is available.
• Members of the public can inspect the forward work programmes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.
• The Council will be publishing an Executive Forward Plan setting out key and other decisions to be made.
• Members of the public who live and/or work in Torfaen and representatives of organisations based in Torfaen may ask questions at meetings of the Council. Petitions can also be presented with the consent of the Mayor.

For further information about the decision making arrangements, phone the Democratic Services Team on 01495 766262.

A copy of Torfaen Council's Constitution| is available to download.